Winding machine



June 26, 1956 J. v. KEITH WINDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8,1953 INVENTOR.

31' JOHN M KEITH mm "roam-v June 26, 1956 J. v. KEITH WINDING MACHINE 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1953 u o u M 9 m 0 1 m 6 fl m 7 M 4 7 m I aII n M v: 4 8 III 2 3 7 n o 9 m u i N i 4 5 i Z 4 Si O 5 IN VEN TOR.

BY JOHN V KEITH ATTORHE Y J1me 1956 J. v. KEITH 2,752,105

WINDING MACHINE Filed July 8, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTUR.

BY JOHN M K56};

AT TORNE Y J. v. KEITH 2,752,105

WINDING MACHINE June 26, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 8, 1953 INVENTOR.

Fig 6 BY JOHN M. KEITH ATTORNEY June 26, 1956 J. v. KEITH 2,752,105

WINDING MACHINE Filed July 8, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 o a o fff Pl; 1 f 8/IN V EN TOR.

BY JOHN V KEITH A TTORNE Y United States Patent WINDING MACHINE John V.Keith, Warwick, R. I., assignor to Universal Winding Co., Cranston, R.I., a corporation of Massachnsetts Application July 8, 1953, Serial No.373,465

9 Claims. (Cl. 242-45 The present invention relates to winding machinesand means for controlling the operation thereof, and more particularlyrelates to a winding machine and controls therefor for winding a strandof material made available at a substantially constant speed by a sourceof supply.

In the following specification and claims the term yarn is employed in ageneral sense to apply to all kinds of strand materials, either textileor otherwise, and the designation package is intended to mean theproduct of a winding machine whatever its form.

It quite frequently becomes necessary in the manufacture of textiles towind a strand of yarn that is being continuously advanced at asubstantially constant rate of speed. An example of such an operation iswinding the output from a synthetic yarn spinning machine. In such awinding operation the yarn must be wound at the same speed that it isadvanced by the spinning machine, or other source of yarn supply,inasmuch as failure to do so would result in breaking the yarn if thewinder were to operate at a higher speed than the source of supply, orif the winder operates at a lower speed than said supply, cause a loopof slack and tangled yarn to form between said winder and said supply.

Many attempts have been made in the past to develop a winding machinecapable of winding a strand of yarn that is continuously advancing at asubstantially constant speed. Two examples of such prior art devices aredisclosed in United States Patent No. 2,509,250 issued May 30, 1950, toI. S. Roberts, and United States Patent No. 2,608,355 issued August 26,1952, to C. C. Bell et al. Both the Roberts device and the Bell et al.device include mechanisms actuated by the tension in the strand of yarnbeing wound, to speed up and slow down the winding mechanism to cause itto keep pace with a continuously advancing strand of yarn. Both of thesedevices possess serious disadvantages that limit their use tocomparatively heavy denier yarns and relatively low winding speedsinasmuch as the speed controlling mechanism in both structures require alarge force to operate them and such a large force can only be appliedby a heavy denier yarn. Furthermore, the reaction time of both theRoberts and Bell et al. control mechanisms is slow due to the inertia ofthe large masses necessary to control the winding speed thus limitingthe use of these devices to applications where a slow winding speed ispermissible.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide awinding machine capable of winding a continuously advancing small denierstrand of yarn.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machinecapable of winding under light tension a strand of yarn that iscontinuously advancing at a substantially constant speed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machinecapable of winding at high speed a small denier yarn that iscontinuously advancing at a constant rate of speed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machinecapable of winding under light tension and at high speed a strand ofyarn that is continuously advancing at a substantially constant speed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machinecapable of winding under light tension a strand of yarn that iscontinuously advancing at a substantially constant speed and havingmeans whereby the tension in the yarn controls the speed at which it iswound.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machinecapable of winding a small denier strand of continuously advancing yarnand having means whereby the tension in the yarn controls the speed atwhich it is wound.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machinecapable of winding a fine denier strand of yarn that is continuouslyadvancing at a substantially constant speed having means whereby thetension in the yarn controls the speed at which it is wound and havingmeans for varying the tension in the yarn from start to finish of thepackage being wound.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machinefor winding a strand of yarn wherein tension in the strand being woundmoves a core into or out of a reactor coil to control the speed at whichthe yarn is wound, and having means to compensate for the varyingmagnetic attraction of said coil on said core.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a winding machinefor winding a strand of yarn that is continuously advancing at asubstantially constant speed wherein tension in the strand being woundmoves a core into or out of a reactor coil to control the speed at whichthe yarn is wound, having means to compensate for the varying magneticattraction of said coil on said core, and having means for decreasingthe tension necessary to move said core as the package being woundincreases in diameter.

Other objects will in part be obvious and will in part appearhereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing theconstruction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which areexemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a winding machine incorporating apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional rear elevation showing the controlmechanism of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, drawn to an enlarged scale, showingdetails of the mechanism for moving the magnetic core into and out ofthe reactor coil;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation showing a modified form of thetension control mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing yet another modified formof tension control mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a view of the back of the control panel with certain elementsomitted and illustrating a damping device incorporated in the controlmechanism;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the damping device;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the damping device; and

Fig. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control mechanism of thepresent invention.

Fig. 1 shows the winding mechanism designated generally as 10 mounted ona pedestal or base 12. The winding mechanism 10 is of the type known inthe art as a precision winder wherein the number of rotations of spindle14 to each reciprocation of yarn guide 16 is fixed from the start of thewinding operation until the package being wound is completed. TheWinding mechanism shown comprises a spindle 14 rotatably journaled in acasing 18. The yarn guide 16 is mounted for reciprocation on traverseframe 21 which in turn is mounted for pivotal movement on shaftZZ topermit said yarn guide 16 to move away from the spindle 14 as the yarnbeing Wound thereon increases in diameter. Y are guide 16 is connectedto and reciprocated by a cam, not shown, located inside of casing '13.Spindle 14 is provided with an expansible and contractible package coreholder 24- for releasably mounting package cores on said spindle.Operating handle '26 is provided for contracting package core holder 24when it is desired to remove a full package from spindle 14 and replaceit with an empty package core holder prior to commencing the winding ofthe new package. All of the above described structure is old and wellknown in the art and need not be described any further herein. Windingmechanism Jill is driven by an electric motor 28 mounted on bracket 29secured to casing 18 and connected to the winding mechanism by anysuitable means. Motor 28 is so wound that it has variable speedcharacteristics, that is to say, the speed of motor 28 increases ordecreases as the electrical current supplied thereto is increased .ordecreased.

Referring now to Fig. 9 wherein is shown in schematic wiring diagramform the electrical circuit for driving motor 28 and for controlling theamount of current supplied said motor. Motor 28 is connected acrossalternating current supply lines 3?) and 32. A normally closed singlepole single throw switch 34, an adjustable resistor 36 and the loadwinding of a saturable reactor 38 are connected in series with motor 28and said alternating current supply lines 30 and 32. The primary windingof a transformer 40 is connected across alternating current supply lines3tland 32 and the secondary of said transformer 40 is connected by meansof conductors 41 and 43 to the input of an electrical bridge 42. One armor side of bridge 42 is formed by resistors 44 and 46, and the other armor side of the bridge is formed by resistor 48 and reactor coil 50. Theoutput of the bridge 42 is connected by means of conductors 52 and 54 tothe input of a full wave rectifier 56. The output of rectifier 56 isconnected by conductors 58 and 69 to the control winding of saturablereactor 38. The inductance of reactor coil 50 is adjustable by means ofa core 62 of magnetic material which is adapted to be moved axially inand out of coil 59. Alternating current supply lines 36 and 32 areprovided with a double pole single throw switch 64 which functions as amain line on-off switch for the circuit. For convenience in assemblingthe above described components in the apparatus motor 28 is connectedinto the circuit by means of a plug P and socket S and various otherelectrical components or groups of components are connected by means ofmultiple prong plug P1 and socket S1.

The above described circuit functions in the following manner to controlthe speed of the motor 28. When switch 64 is closed electrical powerflows through resistor 36, the load winding of saturable reactor 38,normally closed switch 34, and motor 28 to cause said motor to start andto drive winding mechanism 10. At the same time electrical current flowsthrough the primary winding of transformer 46 causing a control voltageto be generated in the secondary winding of said transformer. When theeffective resistance of resistors 44 and 46 are equal, and the effectiveresistance of resistor 48 and reactor coil 50 are equal no current willflow from the output terminals of the bridge. However, whenever thisbalance is upset by varying the impedance of reactor coil 50 by movingcore 62 in or out of said coil a current will flow from bridge .42 torectifier 56 and the amount of current which fiows will be proportionalto the amount of 'un balanced present in the bridge. When bridge 42 isin an unbalance condition current flows therefrom through conductors 52and 54 through rectifier 56 where it is rectified and the rectifiedcurrent flows from the output of said rectifier, by means of conductors58 and 6t and through the control winding of saturable reactor 38. Oneof the Well known characteristics of a saturable reactor is that theflow of current through the load winding thereof can be varied byvarying the flow of direct current through the control winding thereof.That is to say, the amount of current which can pass through the loadwinding of a saturable reactor increases, within the limits .of thereactor as the amount of current passing through the control winding isincreased, and conversely the amount of current passing through the loadWinding decreases as the current passing through the control windingdecreases. It is also a characteristic of ,saturable core reactors thatrelatively large amounts of current'and relatively large changes incurrent flow, through the load winding thereof can be controlled bymeans of relatively small amounts it direct current passing through thecontrol winding thereof. It will, therefore, be apparent that the speedof motor 28 can be controlled by moving core 62 into or out of reactorcoil 5t). It will also be apparent that the comparatively large amountof current i ceded to drive motor 2 8 can be effectively controlled by arelatively small current flowing through reactor coil 9 and the controlwinding of saturable reactor 38. As a result the size of coil 50 andcore 62 can be greatly reduced in size over those found necessary inprior art devices, and the small current flow through coil 56 exertsonly a relatively light magnetic pull on said core. Inasmuch as core 62is moved relative to coil S by the yarn being wound, in a manner to beexplained in detail hereinafter, it will be clear that the presentinvention makes it possible to wind a continuously advancing strand ofyarn under light tension. It will also be clear that the lightness ofcore 62 and the small magnetic pull thereon permits said core to respondquickly to slight changes in tension in the winding strand of yarntherefore making it possible to wind a continuously advancing strand ofyarn at a higher speed than had heretofore been possible.

Adjustable resistor 36 is utilized to preset the maximum amount ofcurrent which can flow through motor 28 to thereby preset .the speed ofsaid motor in the range of speed at which the winding mechanism mustoperate. The circuit of Fig. 9 is also provided With suitable safetydevices, such as fuses and overload heaters; however, such safetydevices are old and well known in the art and form no part of thepresent invention and, therefore, they have been omitted from the wiringdiagram in the interests of simplicity.

Motor .28 has been disclosed hereinabove as being an alternating currentmotor, however, it will be understood that a direct current motor can beemployed with the inclusion of a rectifier in the supply line betweensaid motor and the load winding of the saturable reactor.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 pedestal or base 12 is preferablyfabricated from sheet'metal and forms a hollow cabinet or enclosurehaving an opening 66 formed in its front. A panel 68 serves as a closurefor opening 66 and is removably held in position thereover by anyconvenient fastening means as, for example, screws 70. Panel 68 has manyof the electrical components included in the circuit disclosed in Fig. 9mounted thereon and it also carries the mechanism for moving core 62axially of reactor coil 50. When viewed from its inner or back side,Fig. 2, panel 68 preferably has reactor coil 50 mounted adjacent itslower left hand corner by means of mounting bracket 72. The componentscomprising saturable reactor 38, full wave rectifier 56 and resistors44, 46 and 48 of bridge 42 and socket S may be located on panel 68 inany convenient manner. Transformer 40 and resistor 36 may be located inpedestal or base 12 in any convenient location and connected to thecomponents on panel 68 by means of multiple prong plug P1 and socket S1(not shown). In the event the Winding mechanism of the present inventionis incorporated in a gang magma machine, or multiple head machine,wherein a plurality of similar winding units are mounted side by sideone transformer 40 may be utilized to supply a control voltage for allof the winding units and one resistor 36 may be utilized to preset themaximum speed of all the motors in the gang as a unit. It will beobvious that some other method or device can be substituted for resistor36 to determine the maximum voltage that can be impressed on motors 28to preset their maximum speed. In such event a single transformer 40 andresistor 36 can be mounted in any convenient location, preferably at oneend of the gang machine and connected by suitable conductors to socketS1 located adjacent each panel 68.

A wheel 74 is rotatably mounted above coil 50 with its peripherysubstantially tangent to the axis of said coil by being fixed to a shaft76 which extends through and is rotatably journaled in panel 68. Core 62is connected to wheel 74 by means of a flexible tape 78 secured at oneof its ends to the periphery of wheel 74 and having its other endsecured to one end of core 62 whereby rotation of said wheel will raiseand lower said core thereby causing it to move into or out of the axialopening in coil 50. A compensator arm 80 is fixed adjacent one of itsends to the end of shaft 76 projecting from the face of panel 68 andcarries a dancer roll 82 at its other end. Dancer roll 82 is adapted toengage a loop formed in the running strand of yarn Y between an idlerroll 84 and yarn guide 16 so that an increase in tension in yarn Y willlift said dancer roll to rotate wheel 74 in a direction to lower core 62into coil 50. Movement of core 62 into coil 50 increases the impedanceof said coil and tends to bring the two arms of bridge 42 more nearlyinto balance thereby decreasing the flow of current through conductors52 and 54 and through the control winding of saturable reactor 38thereby causing said saturable reactor to restrict the current flowingthrough its load winding and consequently causing motor 28 to slow down.Conversely a decrease in tension in strand Y permits dancer roll 82 tomove downwardly permitting wheel 74 to rotate in a direction to liftcore 62 out of coil 50 thereby throwing the two arms of bridge 42 out ofbalance to an increasingly greater degree as said roll descendsresulting in more current flowing through conductors 52 and 54 and thecontrol winding of saturable reactor 38 whereby said saturable reactorpermits more current to flow through its load winding to thereby speedup motor 28 and the winder.

As core 62 moves from a position wherein the major portion of its lengthis outside of coil 50 to a position wherein it is substantially centeredin said coil the magnetic attraction on said core first increases,reaching a maximum when said core is half way in said coil, and thendecreases to a minimum when the core is centered in the coil. Tocompensate for this variation in the magnetic attraction on core 62,which obviously is transmitted to wheel 74 and dancer roll 82 throughflexible tape 78, spring means are provided. The compensating springmeans, Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a helical tension spring 86 having oneof its ends secured to a pin 88, located beneath shaft 76, and its otherend secured to a pin 90 carried by the hub 91 of wheel 74. It will beseen, therefore, that as wheel 74 rotates from the position wherein core62 is substantially removed from coil 50 to the position wherein saidcore is substantially centered in said coil, spring 86 will act on saidwheel to oppose the magnetic attraction on core 62. It will be notedthat the eflective moment arm through which spring 86 acts on wheel 74,i. e. the horizontal distance from pin 90 to a vertical line passingthrough the axis of shaft 76, will increase and then decrease as pin 90moves from its lowermost position to its uppermost position. The tensionof spring 86 and the radial distance of pin 90 from the axis of wheel 74are such that the turning moments exerted on shaft 76 by the magneticattraction on core 62 and by spring 86 are substantially equal at alltimes.

Resilient means in the form of spring 92 is provided to compensate forthe weight of core 62 and to provide a force tending to draw said coreout of coil 50. One end of spring 92 is secured to a length of flexibletape 94 which in turn is secured to the periphery of hub 91. The otherend of spring 92 is secured to one end of arm 96 and the other end ofsaid arm is fixedly attached to shaft 98 which is rotatably journaled inand extends through front wall of pedestal 12. A second arm 100 has oneof its ends fixedly secured to the outer end of shaft 98 so that arms 96and 100 and shaft 98 act as a lever pivoting around shaft 98. It will beseen that pivotal movement of arm 96 in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 2, will reduce the tension spring 92 exerts on wheel 74.That is to say, that swinging movement of arm 96 in a counterclockwisedirection reduces the force tending to draw core 62 out of coil 50 withthe result that less tension is then required in the strand of yarn Y tomove said core into the coil, or to maintain it therein. Spring 92preferably is of considerable length and the diameter of hub 91 is smallwith the result that movement of compensator arm to raise or lower core62 extends or contracts said spring only a small percentage of its totalmovement and, therefore, does not change to an appreciable degree theforce exerted by said spring on said compensator arm. A lever 102 ispivotally mounted at one of its ends to the face of casing 18 and isconnected by means of link 104 to traverse frame 20. The free end oflever 102 carries a weight 106 that can be prepositioned thereon andwhich tends to rotate lever 102 in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 1, to thereby maintain yarn guide 16 in contact with theperiphery of the package of yarn being wound on spindle 14. The free endof arm is connected to lever 102 by means of link 108 so that theswinging movement of traverse frame 20, resulting from the growth of thepackage of yarn being wound, will lift the free end of arm 100 tothereby lower arm 96 to thereby reduce the force exerted by spring 92 onwheel 74. The free end of arm 100 and the lowermost end of link 108 areprovided with a plurality of holes 110 and 112 respectively to make itpossible to preset the maximum amount of tension exerted by spring 92and to preset the maximum amount of turning movement which traverseframe 20 can impart to the arms 96 and 100.

The normally closed single pole single throw switch 34 is located on theinner surface of panel 68 adjacent shaft 76 and is positioned to haveprojecting finger 113 carried by its actuating arm 114 engaged by thespoke 116 of wheel 74 to open said switch in the event strand of yarn Ybreaks to stop motor 28 and the operation of the winding mechanism.

The above described mechanism operates in the following manner. Thestrand of yarn Y being fed at a substantially constant speed passes overidler roll 84, under dancer roll 82 and up to yarn guide 16 and thepackage core carried by spindle 14 to form a loop of yarn which supportscompensator arm 80. Winding of the strand of yarn Y by spindle 14 tendsto shorten the loop of yarn supporting compensator arm 80 to lift saidarm to rotate wheel 74 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFigs. 2 and 3, to lower core 62 into coil 50 thereby increasing theimpedence of said coil and as a result reducing the amount of currentflowing from bridge 42 through rectifier 56 and through the controlwinding of saturable reactor 38. As a result the amount of currentpassing through the load winding of said saturable reactor is reducedthereby causing motor 28 and spindle 14 to slow down. Compensator arm 80will continue to rise until such time as spindle 14 is winding yarn Y atthe same speed that it is being advanced. In the event spindle 14 windsyarn Y at a slower speed than it is being advanced, the loop willincrease in size lowering compensator arm 80 to thereby draw core 62 outof coil 50 whereupon a larger current will flow from bridge 42 with theresult that motor 28 and spindle 14 Will be speeded up until such timeas said spindle is again winding the yarn at the same speed that it isbeing advanced. In the event strand of yarn Y breaks or is exhaustedspring 92 will rotate wheel 74 in a clockwise direction, as viewed inFig. 2, until spoke 116 contacts finger 113 of switch 34 to open saidswitch and-stop the operation of motor 28.

Obviously, the tension which will be imparted to the yarn by the windingoperation is controlled by the force compensator arm 80 and dancer roll82 exert upon said yarn, and this force is a combination'of the weightof arm 80 and roll 82 and the force imposed thereon by spring 92. Theforce imposed by spring 92 can be adjusted to predetermine the tensionwhich will be imparted to the winding yarn by raising or lowering arm 96by using appropriate holes 112 to connect arm 100 to link 108.

As the package being wound increases in diameter traverse frame 20 ispivoted, by the growing package, around shaft 22. 'This pivotingmovement causes said traverse frame 2 to lift links 104 and 108 whichare connected to arm 1 410 to lift said arm and thereby lower arm 96.Lowering arm 96 reduces the tension in spring 92. It will, therefore, beseen that the tensionunder which strand of yarn Y is wound willgradually decrease from the start to finish of each package wound. Theamount by which the tension in strand Y is reduced can be adjusted to apredetermined range by the selection of the appropriate hole 111"; inarm 100 to use to connect said arm to link 108.

In the mechanism disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 tension in spring 92 reactsthrough arms 96 and 100 and links 103 and 164 to apply a rota-tive forceto traverse frame 20 tending to rotate said traverse frame in aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. This rotative force tends tomove yarn guide 16 away from the periphery of the package of yarn beingwound and in some instances makes it difiicult to control the pressureof said guide against the winding package. The mechanisms disclosed inFigs. 4 and are modifications of the linkage, disclosed in Figs. 1 and2, for reducing the tension of spring 92, and are so constructed thatnone, or only a very small percentage, of the tension in spring 92 istransmitted to traverse frame 29. In the modification disclosed in Fig.4 link 108, similar to link 108 and moved vertically in the same manher,is connected by means of threaded stud 118 to cam disk 1241. Cam disk120 is rotatably mounted on pedestal or base 12 by means of a stud 122fixed thereon. A shaft 124 is rotatably tjournaled in and extendsthrough pedestal or base 12' adjacent cam disk 120. Arm 96', similar toarm -96, is fixedly secured to the inner end of shaft 124 for rotationthereby. A segment of a circle 126 is fixedly secured to the outer endof shaft 124 whereby rotation of said segment will rotate said shaft andmove arm 26. An arm 128 is freely mounted on shaft 124 intermediate itsends and has one of its ends overlying segment 126 and has a camfollower 130 on its other end in engagement with cam'disk 120. The endof arm 128 overlying segment 126 is adjustably secured to said segmentby means of a bolt 132 passing through said arm and an arcuate slot 134in saidsegrnent. The periphery of cam disk 120 is provided with aplurality of cam surfaces 135, 136, 137, 13.8 and 139 each having adifferent rise from the others. A plurality of threaded holes 140 eachadapted to threadedly receive stud 118 are'formed in cam disc 1211 toselectively position .any desired one of the surfaces 135 through 139 inoperative relation to cam follower 130. V

T e l nkag isclo d in Pig- 4 ope a e in e oll ing manner. As traverseframe is pivoted by the r w h f the Pack g be ng ou n 1 is i Liftinglink .108" rotates cam disk 120 in a clockwise direction causing camfollower 1 30 to move from the high point of its associated camsurfacetowards the low point thereof. Such movement of cam 120 causes camfollower 134 to rise permitting arm 128 to rotate in a clockwisedirection. Rotation of arm 128 rotates segment 126, in-

asmuch as these two elements are securedptogetherby bolt 132, which inturn rotates shaft 12410 lower arm 96 thus reducing the tension inspring '92. The initial tension in spring 1 2 can be preset to anydesired value, within the limits of the apparatus, by adjusting theangular relationship of arms '96 and 128 by means of the. adjustableconnection between said arm 128 and segment 126. The different camsurfaces 135 through 139 on cam disk are employed selectively topredetermine the range of tension reduction imparted to spring 92 by themovement of traverse frame 20. The positional relationship of stud 122,shaft 124 and cam follower are such that the vertical thrust imparted tosaid cam follower by the tension in spring 92 is substantially a radialthrust upon cam disk 12 with the result thatvery little, if any, of saidupward force is transmitted through said cam disk to link 1'32'5 andtraverse frame 20.

In the modification disclosed in Fig. 5 link 108", similar to link 1%and moved vertically in the same manner, is connected by means ofthreaded stud 142 to cam plate 144. Cam plate 144 is rotatably mountedon pedestal or base 12" by means of a stud 146 fixed thereon. A shaft148 is rotatably journaled in and extends through pedestal or base 12"adjacent and above cam plate 144. Arm 96", similar to arm 96, is fixedlysecured to the inner end of shaft 148for rotation thereby. A segment ofa circle 15% is fixedly secured to the outer .end of shaft 148 wherebyrotation of said segment will rotate said shaft and move arm 96". An arm152 is freely mounted on shaft 148 intermediate its ends and has one ofits ends overlying segment and has a cam follower 154 on its other endin engagement with cam surface 156 of cam plate 144. The end of arm 152overlying segment 150 is adjustably secured thereto by means of a bolt158 passing through said arm and arcuate slot 160 in saidsegment.

As traverse frame 20 is pivoted by the growth of the package being woundlink 103 is lifted. Lifting link 103" rotates cam plate 144 in aclockwise direction mov ing cam surface 156 under cam follower 154 topermit arm 152 to rotate in a clockwise direction. Rotation of arm 152rotates segment 150 which in turn rotates shaft 148 to lower arm 26"thus reducing the tension in spring 92. The initial tension in spring 92can be preset to any desired value, within the limits of the apparatus,by adjusting the angular relationship of arms 9.6" and arm 152 by meansof the adjustable connection between said arm 152 and segment 150. Therange through which the tension of spring .22 is reduced can "be presetby the selection of the appropriate radially spaced threaded hole 162provided in cam plate 144 for that purpose. The positional relationshipof stud 146, shaft 148 and cam follower 1 54 are such that the thrustfrom said cam follower 1'54 upon cam surface 156 is substantially radialwith the result that very little, if any, of said thrust is transmittedthrough said cam plate to link 108 and traverse frame 20.

In certain instances in the operation of the present invention as, forexample, when winding at high speed, it is desirable to damp theoscillation of compensator arm 80. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a preferreddamping mechanism and Fig. .6 illustrates the manner in which it isincorporated in the organization illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 anddescribed above. When the damping mechanism is employed the electricalcomponents described above and the v manner in which they are interconilected remains identical as do the mechanical components for n i n in thma n ti P1 1 i h core, and for imparting a u nin 19 t9 th somp setq ar mq a te m e tens o t e and of a n Y. Therefore, in the interest ofsimplicity all of these elements have been omitted from I Fig. .6.

h mpin mechan t k s t fo m o an id pulley 164 mounted for rotationonstub shaft 166 f xed to and projecting inwardly from panel 6 8. Shaft166 is located above wheel 74 in such a location that the periphery ofpulley 164 is tangent to the axis of reactor coil 56. Flexible tape 78'having one of its ends secured to core 62' and its other end secured tothe periphery of wheel 74' passes over idler pulley 164 so that movementof said tape to raise and lower said core tends to rotate said pulley.One side of pulley 164 is provided with a hub 168 inte rally formedthereon and provided about its periphery with ratchet teeth 170. An arm172 is secured to stub shaft 166 adjacent hub 168 by means of set screw174. A dog 176 is pivotally carried by arm 172 in position to engageratchet teeth 17%. It will be seen that pulley 164 can rotate freely inone direction, i. e. counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 8 and clockwiseas viewed in Fig. 6 and will be held against extended rotation in theopposite direction by dog 176 and ratchet teeth 170. It will be noted,however, that pulley 164 is free to rotate in a clockwise direction asviewed in Fig. 8 and a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6,through an are equal to the pitch of ratchet teeth 170.

Idler pulley 164 functions to damp the oscillation of compensator arm80' in the following manner. When winding spindle 14 winds the strand ofyarn Y slower than it is being supplied to the winding mechanismcompensator arm 80' is lowered to thereby move core 62 out of coil 50 toincrease the speed of motor 28. During such movement of compensator arm80' and core 62 idler pulley 164 is free to rotate and therefore impartslittle, if any, resistance to the downward movement of said compensatorarm. When winding spindle 14 winds the strand of yarn Y faster than itis being supplied to the winding mechanism said yarn lifts compensatorarm 80' to lower core 62' into coil 50' and to thereby slow motor 28.During such movement of compensator arm 80' and core 62' idler pulley164 is held against rotation by dog 176, after said dog engages one ofthe ratchet teeth 170, with the result that flexible tape 78 must slideover the surface of pulley 164 and the friction of said tape on saidpulley imparts a retarding force on the upward movement tcompensator arm80. Any desired retarding or damping force can be imposed on compensatorarm 8% by the appropriate selection of materials for pulley 164 andflexible tape 78', the width of said pulley and tape, the diameter ofsaid pulley, and the amount of wrap which said tape takes around saidpulley to thereby control the amount of friction between said pulley andsaid tape.

The pitch of ratchet teeth 17% is sufficiently large so that the normaloscillation of compensator arm St) due to the reciprocation of yarnguide 16 can take place without pulley 164 exerting any damping efiectthereon. That is to say, the pitch of teeth 170 is great enough so thatsaid normal oscillation does not cause them to engage dog 176.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention herein involved, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means fortraversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length ofsaid spindle, the combination comprising an electric motor havingvariable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electriccurrent supply line for driving said motor, means including a reactorcoil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out ofsaid coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through saidmotor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged by saidstrand of yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means andto move in response to changes in tension therein for moving said coreinto and out of said coil, damping means cooperating with said yarnengaging means to damp the movement thereof in one direction, andcompensating 19 means for applying a force to said yarn engaging meanssubstantially equal and opposite to the force exerted thereon by themagnetic attraction of said coil on said core.

2. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means fortraversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length ofsaid spindle, the combination comprising an electric motor havingvariable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electriccurrent supply line for drivin" said motor, means including a reactorcoil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out ofsaid coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through saidmotor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged by saidstrand of yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means andto be moved thereby in one direction when the tension therein exceeds apredetermined value, means appiying a force opposing movement of saidyarn engaging means in said one direction for moving it in the oppositedirection when the tension in said strand of yarn is less than saidpredetermined value, said yarn engaging means being connected to saidcore whereby its movement in response to increases or decreases in yarntension moves said core into or out of said coil, damping meanscooperating with said yarn engaging means to damp the movement thereofin one direction, and means for decreasing said force as the packagebeing wound increases in diameter.

3. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means fortraversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length ofsaid spindle, the combination comprising an electric motor havingvariable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electriccurrent supply line for driving said motor, means including a reactorcoil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out ofsaid coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through saidmotor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged by saidstrand of yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means andto be moved thereby in one direction when the tension therein exceeds apredetermined value, means applying a force opposing movement of saidyarn engaging means in said one direction for moving in it the oppositedirection when the tension in said strand of yarn is less than saidpredetermined value, said yarn engaging means being connected to saidcore whereby its movement in response to increases or decreases in yarntension moves said core into or out of said coil, and compensating meansfor applying a force to said yarn engaging means substantially equal andopposite to the force exerted thereon by the magnetic attraction of saidcoil on said core.

4. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means fortraversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length ofsaid spindle, the combination comprising an electric motor havingvariable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electriccurrent supply line for driving said motor, means including a reactorcoil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out ofsaid coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through saidmotor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged by saidstrand of yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means andto move in response to changes in tension therein, flexible meansconnecting said core and said yarn engaging means whereby movement ofsaid yarn engaging means in response to changes in tension in saidstrand of yarn being wound moves said core into or out of said coil, anidler pulley in engagement with said flexible means, and meanspreventing rotation of said pulley in one direction whereby saidflexible means is forced to slide over the periphery thereof to therebydamp the movement of said yarn engaging member in one direction.

5. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means fortraversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length ofsaid spindle including 1 1 a 'pivotally mounted traverse frame, thecombination comprising an electric motor having variable speedcharacteristics for rotating said spindle, an electric current supplyline for driving said motor, means including a reactor coil and a coreof magnetic material movable axially into and out of said coil forcontrolling the amount of current flowing through said motor 'to therebycontrol its speed, a pivotally mounted compensator arm adapted to beengaged by the strand of yarn being wound and movable thereby in onedirection when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, awheel connected to said arm and rotatable therewith, resilient meanscooperating with said wheel for urging said compensator arm in adirection opposite said one direction, flexible means connecting saidcore to said wheel whereby movement of said compensator arm in responseto changes in tension in said strand of yarn causes said core to moveinto or out of said coil, means for compensating for the magneticattraction exerted on said core by said coil, and means cooperating withsaid traverse frame and said resilient means for reducing the forceapplied on said compensator arm by said resilient means as the packagebeing wound increases in diameter.

6. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means fortraversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length ofsaid spindle including a pivotally mounted traverse frame, thecombination comprising an electric motor having variable speedcharacteristics for rotating said spindle, an electric current supplyline for driving said motor, means including a reactor coil and a coreof magnetic material movable axially into and out of said coil forcontrolling the amount of current flowing through said motor to therebycontrol its speed, means adapted to be engaged by said strand of yarnprior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to be movedthereby in one direction when the tension therein exceeds apredetermined value, a linkage connected to said traverse frame andmovable therewith, resilient means connected to said linkage andcooperating with said yarn engaging means to apply a force opposingmovement thereof in said one direction for moving it in the oppositedirection when the tension in said strand is less then saidpredetermined value, said yarn engaging means being connected to saidcore whereby its movement in response to increases or decreases in yarntension moves said core into or out of said coil, said linkage operatingto reduce the force applied .by said resilient means as said traverseframe moves as the package being wound increases in diameter.

7. -In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and meansfor traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length ofsaid spindle including a pivotallymounted traverse frame, thecombination comprising an electric motor having variable speedcharacteristics for rotating said spindle, an electric current supplyline for driving said motor, means including a reactor coil and a coreof magnetic material movable axially into and out of said coil forcontrolling the amount of current flowing through said motor to therebycontrol its speed, means adapted to be engaged by said strand of'yarnprior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to be movedthereby in one direction when the tension therein exceeds apredetermined value, a linkage including a cam connected to saidtraverse frame and movable therewith, resilient means connected to saidlinkage and cooperating with said yarn engaging means to apply a forceopposing movement thereof in said one direction for moving it in theopposite direction when the tension in said strand is less than saidpredetermined value, said yarn engaging means being connected to saidcore whereby its movement in response to increases or decreasesin yarntension moves said core into or out of said coil, said linkage operatingto reduce the force applied by said resilient means as said traverseframe moves as the paclo age being Wound increases in diameter.

8. In a winding machine having a rotatable Winding spindle and means fortraversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length ofsaid spindle, the co mbination comprising an electric motor havingvariable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electriccurrent supply line for driving said motor, means including a reactorcoil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out ofsaid coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through saidmotor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged .by saidstrand of yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means andto move in response to changes in tension therein, flexible meansconnecting said core and said yarn engaging means whereby movement ofsaid yarn engaging means in response to changes in tension in saidstrand of yarn being wound moves said core into and out of said coil, anidler pulley in engagement with said flexible means, means preventingrotation of said pulley in one direction whereby said flexible means isforced to slide over the periphery thereof to thereby damp the movementof said yarn engaging member in one direction, and compensating meansfor applying a force to said yarn engaging means substantially equal andopposite to the force exerted thereon by the magnetic attraction of saidcoil on said core.

9. In a winding machine having a rotatable Winding spindle and means fortraversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length ofsaid spindle, the combination comprising an electric motor havingvariable speed characteristics for rotating said spindle, an electriccurrent supply line for driving said motor, means including a reactorcoil and a core of magnetic material movable axially into and out ofsaid coil for controlling the amount of current flowing through saidmotor to thereby control its speed, means adapted to be engaged by saidstrand of yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means andto be moved thereby in one direction when the tension therein exceeds apredetermined value, means applying a force opposing movement of saidyarn engaging means in said one direction for moving it in the oppositedirection when the tension in said strand of yarn is less than saidpradeterrnined value, flexible means connecting said core and said yarnengaging means whereby movement of said yarn engaging means in responseto increases or decreases in yarn tension moves said core into or out ofsaid coil, and means for decreasing said force as the package beingwound increases in diameter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,032,176 Kovalsky Feb. 25, 1936 2,116,586 Stoller May 10, 19382,140,555 Satterlee Dec. 20, 1938 2,146,869 White Feb. 14, 19392,509,250 Roberts May 30, 1950 2,608,355 Bell et a1. Aug. 26, 1952

